Dust jacket for books or the like



June 26, 1956 E. A. ENDRES 2,752,171

DUST JACKET FOR BOOKS OR THE LIKE Filed July 16, v 1952 INVENTOR.

ilnited States Patent 0 DUST JACKET FUR BUOKS GK THE rum Elva A. Endres,New York, N. '1.

Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,683

2 Claims. (Cl. 281-20) This invention relates generally to protectivecoverings and more particularly to a novel dust jacket for theprotection of books or similar articles.

The depreciation in the value of books which are infrequently in demandand/ or use and which have a relatively long shelf h'fe creates aserious problem that is recognized by publishers, book sellers,librarians, private owners, and others. This depreciation isattributable not only to soil incurred through the handling of books butalso is caused by dust and dirt settling and accumulating on the edgesof the book leaves which serve as natural depositories therefor. Thetime and expense involved in the periodic cleaning of such booksgenerally is excessive. Also, in certain instances, for example, wherebooks are edged in gold, cleaning is inadequate and the diminution inbook value is substantial.

Heretofore various arrangements have been proposed for the generalprotection of books and similar articles. Some coverings have beendevised primarily to protect books from excessive handling. Suchcoverings usually protect only the binding of the books, the leaf edgesremaining exposed to dust, dirt, and grime. Other devices have taken theform of rigid box-like structures having one open end through which oneor more books may be inserted. Such structures, however, are bulky, aredesigned to enclose only books having certain specified dimensions, andthe per unit cost of fabrication thereof is relatively high.

According to the instant invention, an improved protective covering isprovided which affords substantially complete protection for the leavesof the book contained therein. The covering is relatively simple instructure, inexpensive to manufacture, and is not limited to theprotection of a book of specified dimensions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved coveringfor the protection of books or similar articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dust jacketfor protecting the edges of the leaves of books from dust and dirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust jacket for theprotection of the edges of the leaves of books which jacket is adaptedfor protecting books of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dust jacketfor the protection of books which jacket is relatively simple andinexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved dustjacket for books which is serviceable and easy to use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of various embodiments thereof taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the basic form of a dust jacket forbooks, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the dust jacket 2 of Figure1 operably arranged for protecting a book from dust and dirt;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modification of the dust jacket of Figure 1including a novel flap closure arrangement;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the dust jacket of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 3 andillustrating a further modification of the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the modification shown inFigure 5; and

Figures 7 and 8 are views of flap closure devices adapted for use withthe dust jacket of the invention.

Similar reference characters are applied to similar elements throughoutthe drawings.

Referring to Figure l, the basic form taken by the dust jacket of theinstant invention comprises a flexible blank 11 of a material such askraft paper, a treated fabric, or a plastic material having arectangular central body portion 13 of dimensions substantially equal tothe cover dimensions of the book to be protected. Bounding andprojecting outwardly from the central portion 13 are flaps 15, 17, and19 disposed in relation thereto such that the blank 11 is T-shaped inconfiguration.

A book 21 may be enclosed and protected in the following manner. Onecover 22 of the book binding is placed on the central portion 13 of theblank 11 with the title edge of the book oppositely situated withrespect to the flap19. The flap 19 is folded over the exposed leaf edgesadjacent thereto and placed in contact with the remaining cover binding24. Side flap 15 is then folded over the leaf edges 25 and over thefolded flap 19 and the remaining side flap 17 is folded over the leafedges 27 and over the folded flaps 19 and 15. At the point at whichflaps 15 and 17 overlap, the dust jacket may be secured about the book,as shown in Figure 2, by some convenient means such as a removableadhesive member 29.

It will be seen that all of the normally exposed leaf edges 23, 25, and27 of the book thus enclosed are adequately protected from dust anddirt. Also, it is pointed out that, for a set of given book coverdimensions, the dust jacket described above is adapted for enclosingbooks of materially different thicknesses. By way of example, for bookshaving relatively few pages, the dimension A of flap 19 is selected suchthat when the flap 19 is folded, the edge 31 fails along the title edgeof the book. The dimensions vB and C of flaps 15 and 17, respectively,are chosen to provide almost complete overlap thereof. Hence when arelatively thicker book having substantially the same cover dimensionsis to be protected, a standard size blank may be used. The overlap, inthis case is less than the overlap resulting from enclosing a bookhaving fewer pages. However, the overlap still is sufficient for theoverall protection of the book.

Referring to Figure 3, a modification of the basic form of the inventionis shown. In Figure 3 a rectangular central portion 13 is indicatedgenerally by dash lines, the portion 13 corresponding in size and inshape to the cover dimensions of a standard size book. Also shown areflaps 15, 17, and 19 projecting outwardly from and bounding the portion13. Preferably affixed to the flap 15, and located near one end thereof,is a re-inforcing member 37 which may comprise, for example, paper or asuitable fabric or plastic. The re-inforcing member 37 and the flap 15to which it is bonded include mutually aligned parallel spaced slots 33and 35. Tab 17 comprises a substantially rectangular cover portionadjacent the rectangular portion 13 which cover portion is graduatedinto an elongated tongue member 39 having a slot 40. The graduatedtongue member 39 preferably is strengthened mechanically by are-inforcing member 41 bonded thereto which is similar in size and inshape to the member 39. The re-inforcing member 41 is slotted at a pointcorresponding .to the slot 40 and preferably is of the same typematerial as the' member 37;

Theenclosing of a book may be accomplished in a manner similar to thatdescribed hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1 and 2.' The book isplaced on the rectangular portion 13 with the title edge disposed awayfrom the flap 19. Flap 19 is folded over the book and flap 15.foldedover flap19. Then flap 17' is folded over flapv 15 and the tongue member39 successively threaded through slots 33 and 35. The free end of thetongue member is then folded back upon itself and tucked into slot 40.The book thus enclosed appears as shown in Figure 4.

A'modification of the foregoing embodiment of the invention describedwith reference to Figures 3 and 4 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. Referringto Figure 5, adjacent flap 19, flaps 15 and 17' each includes asintegral parts thereof projections 43 and 45 which, when flaps 15, 17'and 19 are in folded position, may be inserted in slots 47 and'49,respectively, of flaps 19. Referring to Figure 6, it may be seen thatthis feature of the invention afiords books and similar articlesincreased protection from dirt since a more efficient dust-tight closureis provided.

In Figures 7 and 8 there are shown adjustable closing arrangementsespecially suitable for joining together flaps similar to flaps 15 and17 of the devices of Figures '1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 7, flap 51 comprises a cover member one end of whichis fashioned into a T. The projections 53 and 55 comprising the crossmembers of the, T are adapted to be inserted into one of a number ofpairs of slots 57 located in the remaining cover flap 59. It will beseen that the particular pair of slots selected for closing the dustjacket is a function of the number of pages andof the overall thicknessof the book thus covered.

In Figure 8, one cover flap, 61 of the device includes an arrow shapedprojection 63 designed to be contained between any adjacent pair of aplurality of parallel, and preferably equi-spaced, slots 65 located in asecond cover 1121p 67 which is to be secured to the first flap 61. TheWidth of the fiat portion 69 of the projection 63, opposite the arrowpoint, is selected to be slightly greater than the width of the slots65. Thus, when the projection 63 is in place between a pair of slots, itis improbable that an accidental or undesired opening of the coveringmay occur.

In summation, the device herein disclosed and claimed affords a numberof advantages not present in the prior art. The dust'jacket of theinstantinvention is relatively simple in structure, inexpensive tomanufacture, provides substantially complete protection for all theexposed edges of the bookleaves, permits the title edge of the book toremain uncovered for rapid identification, and may be manufactured instandard sizes not limited to the protection of a specific size book.

' While the invention has been described as fabricated a from certainmaterials (i. e., paper, fabric, and plastics) 7 1 it is clear that theinvention is not so limited and may be formed from substantially anysuitable flexible material.

What is claimed is:

1. A dust jacket for books comprising a rectangularshaped flexible bodyportion, a similarly-shaped flap integral with the body portion andextending from one end thereof and forming a prolongation thereof forfolding over and protecting the rear edges of the leaves of a bookplaced on said body portion, a second similarly-shaped fiap integralwith the body portion and extending from one side thereof for foldingover and protecting a group of leaf edges adjacent. the rear edges ofthe leaves of the book, a third similarly-shaped flap integral with thebody portion and extending from the opposite side thereof for foldingover and protecting a group of leaf edges opposite the edges protectedby said second flap, the end edges of the second and third side flapsbeing in alignment with the edge of the other end of the body portion,an extension on said third flap forming a prolongation thereof, saidextension having tapering end edges continuing into an elongated narrowtongue member, said second flap having a pair of equi-spaced slotsparallel to each other and to the free end edge of said second flap forselectively receiving the tongue member, said extension flap integralwith the body portion and extending from.

one side thereof for folding over and protecting a group of leaf edgesadjacent the rear edges of the leaves of the hedge thirdsimilarly-shaped flap integral with the body portion and extending fromthe opposite side thereof for folding over and protecting a group ofleaf edges opposite the edges protected by said second flap, the endedges of the second and third side flaps being in alignment with theedge of the other end of the body portion, an extension on said thirdflap forming a prolongation thereof,

said extension having tapering end edges continuing into an elongatednarrow tongue member, said second flap having a pair of equi-spacedslots parallel to each other and to the free end edge of said secondflap for selectively receiving the tongue member, said extension havinga slot parallel to the slots in the second flap and being disposed inalignment with the tongue member for receiving the tongue member afterpassing through a selected slot in the second flap, said second flapbeing reinforced around the slots formed therein, said extension withits tongue member being reinforced on one face thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS614,302 Hadley Nov. 15, 1898 646,638 Cutler Apr. 3, 1900 Zenick Dec. 23,1952

